The mood on Friday quickly turned from jolly (complete with singing of Mary Poppins songs by Mumsy) to depressed when our flight from Bradley to JFK was cancelled due to Thunderstorms in the NY area. With no other options for the night, we had to go back home and try again the next day, this time scheduled for a flight through Atlanta just in case. Since I have never had a flight cancelled on me in my life, I like to blame the minor travel issue on Mumsy and her over-exhuberant singing.
Placing Mumsy under strict orders NOT to sing until we were safely on our way from Atlanta, we made it to Manchester only 22 hours behind schedule. Kevin graciously picked us up at the airport since it was now Sunday - the most cursed rail travel day in England. However, due to the fact that the Ford Fiesta was once again in the shop, we were picked up in style in the crappy Peugot with no radio and only one working seat belt in the back. Packed in like sardines with a wall of luggage surrounding us, we made it to Ulverston just in time for the rain.
Since the one thing Mumsy was most disappointed about when we had to reschedule our flight was not getting tea and shortbread, we immediately took her and Don for a walk down the Canal path to Bay Horse Pub for a Sunday lunch and tea.
Since the last time I walked the Canal, the baby ducks had grown up quite large, and the path was lined with blackberries and little purple flowers.
We left the pub with bellies full of tea, slow cooked lamb shank that fell off the bone (Don and Kevin), fresh beer battered Cod and Chips (me) and Scottish Salmon in an herb cream sauce (Mumsy).
Tomorrow is the much anticipated Steeplechase. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a hat. Kevin has also told me several times that it is NOT a dressy affair. In any case, I plan on paying homage to Eliza Doolittle.
This morning started out with sunny skies and not a cloud in site - a rare thing for Ulverston. I quickly jumped in the shower, only to emerge with dismal, cloudy skies and a bit of drizzle - a normal day. Determined not to let that deter me, I decided to check out the Canal Walk.
Built in the late 1700s, the canal was designed for building boats and trading. A tow path was created along the side of the canal for horses to pull the completed ships out to Morcombe Bay, where they gained access to the ocean. Once the railway was built and the shipping buisness boomed in Barrow (where Kevin is working building ships), the canal stopped being used. GlaxoSmithKline now owns it, but the tow path is still open for foot traffic.
This Mom and baby ducks thought I was going to feed them and made a bee-line towards me. Unfortunately, all that was waiting them was an eager Norwich terrier.
